Mop and method of making same



May 5, 1936. 1 F.. A. SPEIK MOP AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 21, 1935 y F. A. SPEIK 2,039,565

MOP AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed March 21, 1955 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Wwm Patented May 5, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

My invention relates to a mop and method of making the same.

In particular, my invention relates to a mop in which a longitudinal body of a swab consisting of cords arranged in parallel has one end firmly embraced in a metal. sheath to form a head whereby the same may be quickly attached or removed from a corresponding socket at the end of a handle.

It hasbeen difficult to devisea simple and economic construction to hold the strings of a swab firmly together so that they will not easily be pulled out and to compress the same into a small compass so that it may be conveniently attached and removed from a mop stick. It is an object of the present. invention to provide a mop and a method of making the same whereby such a head may be quickly and efficiently provided. In particular, the construction contemplates the use of a pair of sheet metal plates between which the middle of theswab is. placed, one of the sheet metal plates being wider than the other so that the lateral portions extending beyond the sides of the smaller plate may be clinched over the 5 sides of the smaller plate after compressing tightly the end of the swab between the plates. Preferably, the interlocking of the two metal plates is strengthened by providing fingers of one plate and integral therewith to project through the cords of the swab and through corresponding slots in the other plate. The ends of the fingers projecting through the slots are then clinched over onto the plate. The metal plate thus interlocked and clinched together over the compressed portion of the swab is then cut in two transversely, thus forming two independent swabs or mops, each provide-d at-one end with a metal encased head.

The object of forming a duplex mop in this manner and then cutting the same in two to form two independent mops is that difficulty is experienced when making the mops separately and encasing one end thereof by means of metal plates. It is essential for the proper compression of the ends of the mop within the metal plates that the cords lie in perfect alignment parallel to one another and this is easily accomplished when a mop of the double length is used for it is merely necessary to stretch the ends thereof in opposite directions, which automatically aligns the cords in parallel relation. to one another.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in the steps of the method of making a mop and the resulting product.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification, I have illustrated the successive steps of the method and. also the resulting product, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a double length swab, 5 the middle portion between two metal plates.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 after the compressing operation and the clinching over of the 10 ends of the lateral portions of the wider plate. as well as the fingers of the wider plate over the smaller plate.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3. 15

Fig. 6 is a detailed view showing the plan after the pair of metal plates encasing the end of the swab has been cut in two.

Fig. *7 is a perspective view showing the assembly of the swab to a mop holder. 20

Figs. 8 to 13, inclusive, show a modified form in which Figs. 8 and 9 show a perspective view of the metal plates between which the swab is clamped as shown in the perspective view 01' Fig. 10. 25

Fig. 11 is a vertical section on the line ll-ll of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 shows a perspective view of the assembled mop.

Fig. 13 is a cross section on the line. l3-l3 of 30 Fig. 12.

A swab made of a body of cords of a suitable material such as cotton, is arranged in a flat, rectangular body indicated at [0. The-length of the same is double of that of a single swab for .35 the object is to cut the same. in two equal parts to form two mops at the end of the operation. Preferably, the middle of the swab I0 is provided with a textile web I I to hold the individual cords loosely together. The swab I0 is placed on a suit- 40 able support, such as a table. not shown, with its middle portion resting on a sheet metal plate I2 and the swab is stretched longitudinally, which causes the cords to aline themselves in parallel. The metal plate I2 is somewhat wider 45 than the width of swab l0. Struck integrally from the plate I2 is a series of upstanding fingers I3, with their body portion parallel to the cords of the swab Ill.

Another sheet metal plate l4 provided with 50 slots I5 of a number and position to correspond to fingers [3 of plate I2 is now placed on top of the swab I!) in alinement with plate I2. The top plate I4 is not as wide as plate I2 so that marginal portions indicated l2 of plate l2 project beyond "55 the sides of plate l2 and the sides of the swab ID, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. By means of a power press or the like the plate IQ is now forced under great pressure downwardly toward plate |2, causing the body of cords of the swab It! to be firmly compressed and the fingers IS on plate |2 to project through slots I5 on plate I l. The fingers |3 as well as the marginal portion l2 of plate l2 are now clinched over plate M, as shown in Fig. 3, thus clamping and confining the cords of swab l8 within the metal plates l2 and M. The metal plates and the swab confined therebetween are now cut transversely through the center, the metal plates having preferably been weakened on the line of separation as indicated at l6, such as by scoring, to facilitate the cutting operation. r

The head, which is indicated as a unity at ll, of the swab ID and indicated in Fig. 6, may now be placed in a corresponding metal socket I8 secured in the end of the mop stick l9 and held in position by means of a pair of set screws 29 passing through the socket l8.

In Figs. 8 to 13, inclusive, I have shown a modified construction of my mop in which 2| designates the lower plate having lateral portions 22 vertically extending therefrom. Vertical fingers 23 are stuck integrally from the plate 2| to form two pairs of parallel rows, the fingers in each row being arranged in staggered relation and the plane of the body of the fingers being parallel to the cords of the body of the swab which is placed on plate 24. The top plate 24 is provided with a plurality of perforations or slots 25 arranged in pairs and so disposed that when plate 24 is placed over plate 2| fingers 23 will register with the perforations and when the plate 24, by suitable mechanism, is pressed down upon the swab ID the upper ends of fingers 23 will project therethrough and may then be bent flush with the upper face of plate 24 with the extreme tips of said fingers entering and extending downwardly through the adjacent perforations 25', as clearly shown in Fig. 10. The upper end portions of vertical plates 22 are bent inwardly to lie flush on plate 24 in order to still further compress and clamp the cords in position within the two plates 2| and 24. A pair of channels 26 in top plate 24 and corresponding channels 21 in the bottom plate 2| are pressed inwardly, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. Preferably, the channels 28 and 29 in the top plate 24 and bottom plate 2|, respectively, are transverse to the channels 26 and 21. Rivets 30 passing from plate 24 to plate 2| may still further unite the metal plates in order to confine the swab securely. It should be remembered that considerable pressure is exerted by the swelling of the cords on the application of moisture, therefore, the clamping means should be made secure.

The metal plates and the swab confined therebetween are now out transversely in the center er 35 in its upper face to prevent marring of the furniture when in use.

Various changes may be made in the steps of the method and in the construction of the mop by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A method of making mops comprising placing a swab consisting of a body of cords in parallel alignment, clamping a pair of sheet metal plates having interlocking means about the middle of the swab, and cutting through the plates and the swab transversely to the axis thereof to form two separate mops.

2. A method of making mops comprising placing a swab consisting of a body of cords in parallel alignment, clamping a pair of sheet metal plates having interlocking means about the middle of the swab, and cutting through the middle of the plates and the swab transversely to the axis thereof to form two separate mops, one of the metal plates being provided with struck out fingers extending through corresponding slots in the other metal plate, and clinching the fingers over the slotted plate.

3. A method of making mops comprising placing a swab consisting of a fiat body of cords in parallel alignment, clamping a pair of sheet metal plates about the middle of the swab under power pressure, one of the metal plates extending laterally beyond the sides of the other plate, clinching the two plates together and cutting through the middles of the plates and the swab transversely to the axis thereof to form two separate mops.

4. A mop comprising a longitudinal swab having a fiat body consisting of cords arranged in parallel, one end of the swab being tightly compressed and embraced by a pair of inter- 3 locked sheet metal plates forming a head, one of said plates being wider than the other and having its lateral portions clinched over the sides of the other plate, said wider plate being provided with fingers integral therewith and passing through corresponding slots in the smaller plate, the ends of the fingers projecting through the slots being clinched over the face of the smaller plate.

5. A mop comprising a longitudinal swab having a body portion consisting of cords arranged in parallel, one end of the swab being tightly compressed and embraced by a pair of sheet metal plates forming a head, one of said plates being wider than the other and having its lateral portions clinched over the sides of the other plate, said wider plate being provided with fingers integral therewith and passing through corresponding slots in the smaller plate, the ends of the fingers projecting through the slots being clinched over the face of the smaller plate, and rivets connecting the plates together.

6. A mop comprising a longitudinal swab having a body portion consisting of cords arranged in parallel, one end of the swab being tightly compressed and embraced by a pair of sheet metal plates forming a head, one of said plates being wider than the other and having its lateral portions clinched over the sides of the other plate, said wider plate being provided with fingers integral therewith and passing through corresponding slots in the smaller plate, the ends of the fingers projecting through the slots being clinched over the face of the smaller plate, the plates being provided with outwardly extending ribs.

7. A mop comprising a longitudinal swab having a body consisting of cords arranged in parallel, one end of the swab being tightly compressed and embraced by a pair of interlocked sheet metal plates forming a head, one of said plates being provided with fingers integral therewith, the other plate being provided with slots for the reception of the upper ends of said fingers, the ends of said fingers projecting into slots being clinched over the face of the other plate and. again downwardly through slots of the other plate into the body of the swab.

8. A mop comprising a longitudinal swab having a body consisting of cords arranged in paral lel, one end of the swab being tightly compressed and embraced by a pair of sheet metal plates forming a head, one of said plates being wider than the other and having its lateral portions clinched over the sides of the other plate, a fastening means integral with one of said plates and extending through the body of the swab and secured to the other plate.

9. A mop comprising a longitudinal swab having a fiat body consisting of cords arranged in parallel, one end of the swab being tightly compressed and embraced by a pair of sheet metal plates forming a head, fingers integral with one plate and passing through the body of the swab and having their upper ends secured to the other plate.

FREDERICK A. SPEIK. 

